American Murder: Gabby Petito, A new Netflix documentary series delves into the case of Gabby Petito, highlighting the journey undertaken by two individuals, of whom only one returned. The true story is filled with numerous twists and turns, several of which are examined in the documentary.

This three-part series, directed by Julia Willoughby Nason and Michael Gasparro, chronicles the adventures of 22-year-old Petito and her fiancé, 23-year-old Brian Laundrie, as they embark on a cross-country van trip intended for their YouTube channel.

Petito's disappearance garnered national attention when her family reported her missing in September 2021, leading to a case that quickly became one of the most discussed true crime stories in recent memory.

What happened to Gabby and Brian?

Gabrielle "Gabby" Petito was born in 1999 and grew up in Blue Point, New York, as the oldest among six siblings and half-siblings. In 2019, she began a relationship with Brian Laundrie, a former high school classmate. Subsequently, she moved to North Port, Florida, to reside with Laundrie and his family.

Laundrie was employed at a grocery store, while Petito worked as a pharmacy technician at a local Publix. In early 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple decided to embark on a cross-country trip to establish a travel blog and YouTube channel.

On August 19, 2021, they posted a video on YouTube titled "Beginning Our Van Life Journey," showcasing their experiences, including beach outings, meals, and camping setups throughout their travels.

Tragically, less than a month later, Petito was reported missing. On August 12, 2021, law enforcement encountered the couple in Moab, Utah, following reports of a dispute. A witness had claimed to see a man striking a woman.

During the traffic stop, despite Laundrie having visible facial injuries, Petito admitted to having struck him first. The officers in Moab determined that Petito was the primary aggressor and allowed her to remain with the van while arranging for Laundrie to stay in a motel for the night.

After several weeks without contact from Petito, her family filed a missing person report on September 11. It soon emerged that Laundrie had returned home without her on September 1. His parents advised investigators to direct any inquiries to their attorney, as he refused to speak with the police.

Eight days after being reported missing, Petito was discovered dead on September 19 in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park. The FBI reported that her bones were found at the dispersed camping area at Spread Creek.

Two days later, authorities ruled her death a murder. Petito died from strangulation, according to an autopsy conducted after almost three weeks, and her body was left outside for three or four weeks.

Laundire and his parents refused to talk to investigators after the North Port Police labelled him a person of interest on September 15. Josh Taylor, a spokesman for North Port Police, disclosed that Laundrie had also vanished on September 17.

Laundrie's parents reported that they last saw him on September 13, when he departed for a walk at the nearby Carlton Reserve. On September 23, four days after the discovery of Petito's body, a federal warrant for Laundrie's arrest was issued by the US District Court of Wyoming, based on allegations that he had utilized her debit card during her absence.

On October 21, human remains later confirmed to be Laundrie's were found by authorities at Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. His parents indicated that he was last seen walking in the Carlton Reserve, which is adjacent to the park.

The family's attorney revealed the following month that Laundrie had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. No funeral was held once it was established that his death was a suicide.

In January 2022, FBI agents declared Laundrie responsible for Petito's murder after a written confession was found in a notebook located near his remains. The contents of this notebook were made public by the Laundrie family's attorney five months later. In March 2022, Petito's parents filed a civil lawsuit against Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, claiming that they aided their son in concealing the murder and were preparing to assist him in fleeing the country. A settlement was reached between the families in February 2024.

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